Weihong Peng and Jennifer Cisna
This paper discusses the introduction of cookies into Web technology and their role as a user‐tracking device. While cookies contribute to the user‐friendliness of Web sites…
Abstract
This paper discusses the introduction of cookies into Web technology and their role as a user‐tracking device. While cookies contribute to the user‐friendliness of Web sites, their placement on client‐side computers is a cause for concern. The authors look at both sides of the technology, pointing out benefits and drawbacks.
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Xi Zhong, Weihong Chen and Ge Ren
This study aims to re-examine the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on firm innovation. Studies on how EPU affects firm innovation have been inconclusive. The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to re-examine the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on firm innovation. Studies on how EPU affects firm innovation have been inconclusive. The authors clarified the curvilinear relationship between EPU and firm innovation and examined the moderating effects of managerial pay gaps, specifically vertical pay disparity and horizontal pay dispersion.
Design/methodology/approach
This study’s analyses used data collected from Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2019.
Findings
The authors found an inverted U-shaped relationship between EPU and firm innovation. Furthermore, vertical pay disparity strengthens the curvilinear relationship, while horizontal pay dispersion weakens it.
Practical implications
First, politicians should avoid adjusting economic policies too frequently because the high EPU levels created by frequent adjustments can inhibit business innovation. Second, firms should be aware that EPU creates opportunities for leapfrogging. In particular, firms can incentivize executives to take advantage of the valuable growth opportunities presented by EPU by widening vertical pay disparities and avoiding excessive horizontal pay dispersion.
Originality/value
First, the authors analyze not only the positive effects of lower EPU on firm innovation but also the negative impacts of higher EPU to examine EPU’s “double-edged sword” effect on firm innovation. Second, the investigation of vertical pay disparity and horizontal pay dispersion as moderating variables sheds new light on the equivocal research findings regarding the EPU–firm innovation relationship and clarifies the boundary conditions of the double-edged sword effect of EPU on firm innovation.
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Xi Zhong, Weihong Chen and Ge Ren
Many studies have examined the antecedents of firms' strategic change on a micro and meso level, but few studies have explored it from the macrolevel (e.g. economic policy…
Abstract
Purpose
Many studies have examined the antecedents of firms' strategic change on a micro and meso level, but few studies have explored it from the macrolevel (e.g. economic policy uncertainty) perspective. This research draws attention to the impact of economic policy uncertainty on firms' strategic change.
Design/methodology/approach
This research empirically tests hypotheses based on a sample of listed firms in China during the period between 2010 and 2017.
Findings
Based on real options theory, the authors theorize and find that economic policy uncertainty will negatively affect firms' strategic change through the mediating effect of CEO turnover. Moreover, organizational inertia will strengthen the negative impact of economic policy uncertainty on CEO turnover and will weaken the positive impact of CEO turnover on firms' strategic change.
Originality/value
First, this research contributes to the strategic change literature by demonstrating the important impact of economic policy uncertainty on firms' strategic change. Second, this research expands the literature on the economic consequences of economic policy uncertainty. Third, this research clarifies the path and boundary conditions of economic policy uncertainty affecting strategic change by introducing the mediating effects of CEO turnover and the moderating effects of organizational inertia.
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Weihong Chen, Xi Zhong and Hailin Lan
The impact of executive characteristics on firm internationalization has already been extensively explored. However, relatively few studies have examined the critical role of…
Abstract
Purpose
The impact of executive characteristics on firm internationalization has already been extensively explored. However, relatively few studies have examined the critical role of chief executive officer (CEO) personality attributes, and especially CEO openness, in firm internationalization. This research aims to deepen the understanding of firm internationalization, by exploring whether and when CEO openness influences firm internationalization.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of private high-tech listed firms in China is used, with data from 2004 to 2020.
Findings
Based on upper echelons theory, this study theorizes and finds that CEO openness will positively influence firm internationalization. Further, based on the behavioral theory of the firm, this study finds that the performance aspiration gap weakens the positive effect of CEO openness on firm internationalization, but also finds that the potential slack strengthens this effect.
Originality/value
First, the study reinterprets firm internationalization strategies from the perspective of CEO openness, a personality attribute; CEO openness is an important but so far rarely discussed topic in the field of international business. Second, for the first time, problemistic search and slack search into a research framework are introduced to explore the relationship between CEO characteristics and firm internationalization. This approach can further define the boundary conditions under which CEOs can project their values, preferences and personalities into the process of formulating and implementing a firm's internationalization strategy.
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Jiajia Peng, Gaoming Jiang, Honglian Cong, Xuan Luo and Yan Zhao
The whole garment technology offers a solution for the production efficiency by directly knitting a seamless tubular garment. Due to its complexity, high requirements and few…
Abstract
Purpose
The whole garment technology offers a solution for the production efficiency by directly knitting a seamless tubular garment. Due to its complexity, high requirements and few references, the technology has not been widely applied in mass production. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to show garment technology’s detailed design method, the technique calculation process and its merits compared than common technology.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first analyzes the knitting principle of the four-bed computerized flat knitting machine from its configuration. After that, the design method is putted forward as well as the technique calculation process. To reveal the advantages of the whole garment technology, this paper builds a comprehensive evaluation system by comparing the knitting time, labor cost and the yarn consumption.
Findings
With the evaluation system, the whole garment technology is proved to be more productive, cost-saving and less materials-consuming. Moreover, this advantage stands more out when the machine gage is higher.
Research limitations/implications
Due to limited research time and references, this paper only presents the whole garment technology for knitting common and traditional styles. More complicated and fashioned garments can be studied in the future research.
Practical implications
The design method and technology presented in this paper can be used as a reference for both the designers in the manufacture industry and the scholars for academic research works.
Originality/value
This paper has presented the whole garment technology and a specific method for technique calculation with consideration of garment structures. It also builds a evaluation system to show the advantages in terms of knitting efficiency, labor cost and yarn consumption.
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Chen Weihong, Zhong Xi, Hailin Lan and Li Zhiyuan
In recent years, the phenomena of “accelerating” and “jumping” during the international expansion of Chinese enterprises have attracted a lot of attention from scholars. However…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the phenomena of “accelerating” and “jumping” during the international expansion of Chinese enterprises have attracted a lot of attention from scholars. However, while a CEO’s career horizon can significantly affect his or her enterprise’s strategic decision-making, few studies have explored the role of CEO career horizon in terms of “accelerating” and “jumping” internationalization.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of China’s A-share listed manufacturing companies from 2008 to 2017, this study explores the impact of CEO career horizon on the internationalization pace and international rhythm of enterprises.
Findings
First, the shorter the CEO’s career horizon, the more likely the CEO can avoid risky strategic decisions, which ultimately causes a negative relationship between CEO career horizon and the internationalization pace and rhythm of the enterprise. Second, for larger and older boards of directors, there is a more negative impact of the CEO’s short-term career horizon on the internationalization pace and internationalization rhythm of the company. However, given a larger proportion of female directors and non-executive directors, the CEO’s short-term career horizon has a weaker negative impact on international pace and the rhythm of internationalization.
Originality/value
First, based on upper echelon theory, this study interprets the influence of CEO career horizon on the time dimension of corporate internationalization (including internationalization pace and international rhythm), deepening the theory’s explanatory power. Second, by clarifying the important predictive effect of CEO career horizon on internationalization pace and international rhythm, this research enriches extant research on both variables’ antecedents, as well as that on the influence of CEO career horizon. Finally, by introducing the regulatory role of the board’s supervisory ability, this study clarifies the boundary conditions for the influence of the CEO’s career horizon on international pace and rhythm, and it expands the literature on how CEOs and boards of directors can influence corporate strategic decisions during the internationalization process.
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Xi Zhong, Weihong Chen and Ge Ren
Whether and when the innovation aspiration shortfall (e.g. innovation performance lower than aspirations) will affect emerging economy firms (EEFs)' international expansion…
Abstract
Purpose
Whether and when the innovation aspiration shortfall (e.g. innovation performance lower than aspirations) will affect emerging economy firms (EEFs)' international expansion remains an important unanswered theoretical and practical question.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on performance feedback theory, this study explores the impact of innovation aspiration shortfall on EEFs' international expansion and the moderating role of CEO origin.
Findings
This study finds that innovation aspiration shortfall has a positive impact on EEFs' international expansion. This study also uncovers that EEFs are less likely to implement international expansion in response to innovation aspiration shortfall when the CEO is a founder than when the CEO is a non-founder, and EEFs are more likely to implement international expansion in response to innovation aspiration shortfall when the CEO is an outsider-CEO than when the CEO is an insider-CEO.
Originality/value
This study proposes that the interaction between innovation aspiration shortfall and CEO origin can be a useful predictor of EEFs' international expansion.
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A numerical simulation of the test beam was carried out with Abaqus and compared with test data to ensure that the modeling method is accurate. An analysis of the effects of the…
Abstract
Purpose
A numerical simulation of the test beam was carried out with Abaqus and compared with test data to ensure that the modeling method is accurate. An analysis of the effects of the angle between the U-hoop and horizontal direction, the pre-crack height, the pre-crack spacing, and the strength of the geopolymer adhesive on the cracking load and ultimate load of the reinforced beam is presented.
Design/methodology/approach
Load tests and finite element simulations were conducted on carbon fiber reinforced polymer-reinforced concrete beams bonded with geopolymer adhesive. The bond-slip effect of geopolymer adhesive was taken into account in the model. The flexural performances, the flexural load capacities, the deformation capacities, and the damage characteristics of the beams were observed, and the numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. An analysis of parametric sensitivity was performed using finite element simulation to investigate the effects of different angles between U-hoop and horizontal direction, pre-crack heights, pre-crack spacing, and strength of geopolymer adhesive on cracking load and ultimate load.
Findings
Under the same conditions, the higher the height of the pre-crack, the lower the bearing capacity; increasing the pre-crack spacing can delay cracking, but reduce ultimate load. By increasing the strength of the geopolymer adhesive, the flexural resistance of the beam is improved, and crack development is also delayed; the angle between the u-hoop and horizontal direction does not affect the cracking of reinforced beams; a horizontal u-hoop has a better effect than an oblique u-hoop, and 60° is the ideal angle between the u-hoop and horizontal direction for better reinforcement.
Originality/value
According to the experimental study in this paper, Abaqus was used to simulate the strength of different angles between U-hoop and horizontal direction, pre-crack heights, pre-crack spacings, and geopolymer adhesives, and the angles' effects on the cracking load and load carrying capacity of test beams were discussed. Since no actual tests are required, the method is economical. This paper offers data support for the promotion and application of environmentally friendly reinforcement technology, contributes to environmental protection, and develops a new method for reinforcing reinforced concrete beams and a new concept for finite element simulations.
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Man Hu, Zhenkuo Ding and Longda Li
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of top management team (TMT) stability on firm internationalization speed, identifying the mediating role of corporate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of top management team (TMT) stability on firm internationalization speed, identifying the mediating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and moderating the role of institutional distance.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of Chinese companies from 2005 to 2020. This article used ordinary least squares to empirically test the impact of TMT stability on firm internationalization speed.
Findings
Our main findings show that the more stable the TMT, the faster the internationalization speed of the enterprise. CSR mediates the influence of the TMT stability and firm internationalization speed, that is, the stable TMT is more willing to make decisions to assume more CSR based on the long-term sustainable development of the enterprise, thus influencing the firm internationalization speed. The greater institutional distance between the home country and the host country, the stronger the positive impacts of CSR on the firm internationalization speed.
Originality/value
This paper is of reference significance for enterprises to rationally formulate corporate internationalization strategies. We call on multinational enterprises (MNEs) to pay more attention to the TMT stability and the important role of CSR in the internationalization of enterprises in emerging economies.
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Fekri Ali Shawtari, Muslim Har Sani Mohamad, Hafiz Majdi Abdul Rashid and Abdullah Moh’d Ayedh
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board characteristics and real performance among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Malaysia in a longitudinal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board characteristics and real performance among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Malaysia in a longitudinal period following the introduction of transformation policy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study deviates from prior research in utilising a real performance measure rather than traditional measures of performance. The authors adopt the quantile regression approach to examine the impact of board characteristics on real performance in a comparison using ordinary least squares.
Findings
The results of quantile regression reveal that the impact of board mechanisms on real performance was not as expected. Specifically, board size and duality had a bearing on real performance. Board independence also is considered as influential factor through the time. However, such effects were not homogenous across different quantiles. The dummy year variable to compare the period pre- and post-transformation policy reveals that the dummy year is not significant, indicating that performance post-transformation is indifferent compared to the pre-transformation policy period.
Practical implications
It is important for government to reconsider the policies embedded in the transformation policy. This study provides insights on the enhancement of board effectiveness and new developments regarding GLCs.
Originality/value
This is an early to attempt to measure real performance and its link to board characteristics in SOEs post-transformation policy.